Electric signal.



.PATENTED SEPT. e, 1904, w. T. WHEELER. ELECTRIC SIGN APPLICATION FILED NOV. 03.

Fig. l. i 12 NO MODEL.

. v I T. Wheeler supply.

Patented September 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

' WILLIAM T. WHEELER, OFST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECT-RIC SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,203, dated September 6, 1904. Application filed NOVember'7, 1908. Serial No- 180,253. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulElectric Signal, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the-same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates more particularly to an electric signal adapted for use as a doorbell or for other'similar purposes, and has for its object to provide means for indicating to the person approaching the entrance of a house the location/of the push-button for closing the circuit through the door-bell.

A further object of my invention is to so arrange the circuits through the translating devices as to economize the current from the battery or other source of electric-current In the drawings, in which like characters of reference refer "to similar parts in the different views, Figure 1 represents diagrammatlcallya signaling system embodying my inven-,

tion. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through a particular form of easing containing a portion of my apparatus embedded in a doorjamb. and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the apparatus shown in .Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1, 10 indicates an electric battery connected, by meansofja circuit 11, to. a contact-making device, (indicated at 12.) This contact-making device is composed of two thin plates supported close to each other, so that pressure upon the upper plate, such as that produced by a person standing upon the same, will bring the two plates into contact and close the circuit 11,

which is normally held open by the resiliency of the plates composing the device 12. In practice I place this device 12 beneath the door-mat before the entrance or in any other suitable position where the person approaching the door will step upon the same. 14: indicates the clapper, 15 the electromagnet, and 16 the gong of an electric bell.

The circuit through this bell is made by means of the wire 18, connected at one end at 19 to thecircuit 11 and at the other end to a contact-point 20. 21 indicates a small electric lamp, one terminal of which is connected to the conductor 11 and the other of which is connected,

by means of a resilient arm 22, supported upon an insulating-block 23, to the other side of the circuit 11. These parts are more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, 25 indicates the door-jamb, in which a casing of insulating material is embedded. This casing is formed of a cylindrical portion 26 and an end portion 27, suitably secured to the portion 26 by screws 28. The front of the casing is closed by a metal plate 29, provided with a cylindrical opening 30, surrounded byascrewthreaded boss 31, which is screwed into the cylindrical portion 26 of the casing. The plate 29 is also secured to the jamb 25 by means of screws 33. The lamp 21 is secured by asupport 35 to a shoulder formed in the portion 26 of the casing, the screw'36 serving this purpose.- The .screw 36 also carries the insulating-block 23 and the resilientarm 22 above mentioned. It also serves tovsecure the conductor forming the circuit llx to the resilient arm 22. It will thus be seen that all these parts are securely fastened to theportion 26 0f the casing and that the arm 22and the circuit 11 are insulated from the arm 35, supporting the lamp. 39 is vthe'stem of the lamp, to-which one of the terminals of the filament is connected. The arm 22 is normally held by its resiliency in contact with the stem 39. The conductor forming the circuit 11 is connected with the other terminal of the lamp 21 by means of the terminal 10, as shown in Fig. 3. The terminal 20, connected with the circuit 18, is also secured to the inner face of the part 27 of the casing, as shown in Fig. 2. The arm 22 is provided with an extension 42. This extension 12 carries at its free end a plate 43, on which a push-button 414 is supported. This push-button 4A extends through the opening 30 in the plate 29. It is preferably made of opal glass or transparent glass or some other suitable material permitting the passage of light. is a shoulder formed on the inner side of the portion 26 of the casing.

In the operation of my invention when a person approaches the door he steps upon the contact device 12, controlling the flow of current in the circuit 11. This closes the circuit from the battery 10 through the circuit 11, arm 22, stem 39, and lamp 21, causing the lamp to burn and indicate to the person approaching the door the position of the button for ringing the door-bell. Upon pushing the button 4A the resilient arm 22 is pressed downward, thus breaking the circuit through the lamp 21 and bringing the arm 22 into contact with the terminal 20, thus closing the circuit through the bell. WVhen the button is released, the parts are returned to normal position.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination witha lamp, of a circuit supplying current thereto, means for control ling the flow of current in said circuit, a translating device, a second circuit supplying current to said translating device, and means situated adjacent to said lamp and transmitting the light from said lamp, said means controlling the current in said second circuit.

2. The combination with alamp, of a circuit supplying current thereto, means for controlling the current in said circuit, a translating device adapted to be connected in multiple with said circuit, and means adjacent tosaid lamp and transmitting the light from said lamp, said means controlling the supply of current to said translating device.

3. The combination with an electric lamp,of a circuit supplying current thereto, means for opening and closing said circuit, a second circuit adapted to be connected in multiple with said first-named circuit, a translating device in said second circuit, and means adjacent to said lamp and transmitting the light from said lamp for simultaneously opening one and closing the other of said circuits.

4. The combination with a casing, of an elec- 45 i tric lamp in said casing, a push-button for said casing moving relatively to said lamp and permitting the passage of light from said lamp, and a translating device contained in a circuit controlled by said push-button.

5. The combination with a casing,of an electric lamp in said casing, apush-button for said casing movable relatively to said lamp and permitting the passage of light from said lamp, a translating device contained in a circuit controlled by said push-button, a second circuit containin said lamp, and means for controlling said second circuit.

6. The combination with a casing,of an electric lamp therein, a circuit containing a translating device, a push-button for said casing movable relatively to said lamp and controlling said circuit, a second circuit including said lamp and controlled by said push-button, and means independent of said push-button for controlling said second circuit.

7. The combination with a casing provided with an opening, of a contact device in said casing, an electric lamp in said casing, and an operating device permitting the passage of light from said lamp and movable in said opening to operate said contactv device.

8. The combination with a casing provided with an opening, of a contact device in said casing, an electric lamp in said casing, and a translucent push-button in said opening and movable relatively to said lamp for operating said contact device.

9. The combination with a casing permitting the passage of light, of an electric lamp in said casing, a circuit supplying current to said lamp, a second circuit, a translating device in said second circuit, and means in said casing for simultaneously opening one and closing the other of said circuits.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and aiiixed. my seal in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses. 

